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119-s-2196119th Congress
Strengthening Protections for Domestic Violence and Stalking Survivors Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Senator Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]
Introduced
Summary
Would broaden federal firearm prohibitions to cover more dating partners and certain stalking convictions. It would redefine “dating relationship” as a “continuing serious relationship” and add a new federal misdemeanor for stalking with rules about when a conviction can trigger gun bans.
Show full summary
- Families and survivors: More relationships qualify as an “intimate partner,” including dating partners and people protected under State or Tribal domestic violence laws, and situations where someone dated a victim’s parent or guardian.
- People charged with stalking: The bill defines misdemeanor stalking as a course of harassment or surveillance that causes reasonable fear or emotional distress. A conviction counts for firearm prohibitions only if the defendant had counsel or knowingly waived counsel and jury trial rights.
- Gun owners and eligibility officials: Misdemeanor stalking convictions would be added to the list of offenses that can bar someone from shipping, possessing, or receiving firearms, though expunged, set aside, pardoned, or restored-rights convictions do not count unless they expressly say so.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
Misdemeanor stalking can block guns
If enacted, certain misdemeanor stalking convictions would count as a federal gun disqualifier. You would be barred from buying, receiving, or possessing firearms if convicted under the new definition. A conviction would count for this purpose only if the defendant had counsel or knowingly waived counsel, and if jury trial rights were preserved or knowingly waived. Expunged, set-aside, or pardoned convictions would not count unless the pardon or expungement explicitly keeps firearm limits.
Wider definition of intimate partner
If enacted, the bill would expand who counts as an "intimate partner" to include people in current or recent dating or similar relationships. It would replace the term "dating relationship" with a defined "continuing serious relationship" of a romantic or intimate nature. It would also expand the misdemeanor domestic violence rule to cover offenses by someone who has a current or recent dating relationship with a victim's parent or guardian.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]
MN • D
Cosponsors
Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
CT • D
Sponsored 6/26/2025
Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA]
VA • D
Sponsored 6/26/2025
Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT]
VT • D
Sponsored 6/26/2025
Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
IL • D
Sponsored 6/26/2025
Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT]
VT • I
Sponsored 6/26/2025
Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]
MA • D
Sponsored 6/26/2025
Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI]
HI • D
Sponsored 6/26/2025
Sen. Alsobrooks, Angela D. [D-MD]
MD • D
Sponsored 7/9/2025
Sen. Kim, Andy [D-NJ]
NJ • D
Sponsored 7/29/2025
Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD]
MD • D
Sponsored 12/1/2025
Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
NY • D
Sponsored 12/2/2025
Sen. Smith, Tina [D-MN]
MN • D
Sponsored 12/1/2025
Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL]
IL • D
Sponsored 12/1/2025
Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]
NH • D
Sponsored 12/2/2025
Sen. Reed, Jack [D-RI]
RI • D
Sponsored 12/1/2025
Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA]
CA • D
Sponsored 12/10/2025
Sen. Rosen, Jacky [D-NV]
NV • D
Sponsored 12/10/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov